Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday: May Challenge - Blooming Beautiful

Hello and welcome to the May Crafty Wednesday Challenge right here on my blog! Thank you so much for stopping by to check out the new theme and hopefully you'll decide to join in too! 

A big thank you to all of you that joined in last month, there were some gorgeous entries and you can find my top picks at the end of the post. 

This Month's Theme:

I'm having flowers on the brain recently (it's that time of the year) so this month it's all about...............

Blooming Beautiful

{or Anything Goes!}

As usual the theme is optional and you may link up anything crafty - not restricted to papercrafts. All entries will be considered for a top pick, whether you followed the theme or not!

My May Creation:

I used Penny Black's collage style stamp Botanical Notes, but decided to keep the focus on the flowers instead of the full stamp. 

Exact stamp used:

I stamped on Bristol Vellum paper using Versafine Onxy ink and I colored with Distress inks and Zig Clean Color brush pens (exact colors listed below)  and then I fussy cut the image using my Cutterbee scissors. Yes - this did take quite some time but as long as I'm not short on time I enjoy the process very much and this was one of those days. Never mind the laundry that needed to be put away LOL. It can certainly wait!!

The background was done with the simple "splash watercolor technique" (you can see Loll's super short "how to" video here if you're not sure what technique I am talking about) and then I splattered some more ink onto the background using a toothbrush. Finally I used the same collage stamp on this background by stamping it in a light color (Tumbled Glass Distress Ink) to add some more interest to the card.

Related Products :

The script border which I also used partially on the top and the side is an oldie but goodie from Whimsy Stamps from my design team time many years ago and no longer available. 

Before adhering the fussy cut image to the card with foam tape, I added some light green grosgrain ribbon (option) and a strip of white card stock. The sticky sentiment is one from Tim Holtz Quotations stickers. 

 

Stamps: Penny Black Botanical Notes, Whimsy Stamps Border Stamp (no longer available)

Inks for Stamping and Background: Versafine Onyx, Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, Wilted Violet Distress Ink, Blueprint Sketch Distress ink, Evergreen Bough Distress Ink, Shabby Shutters Distress Ink

Coloring Medium/Inks for Coloring: Tattered Rose Distress Ink, Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, Light Carmine Zig Clean Color, Carmine Zig Clean Color, Deep Green Zig Clean Color, Mustard Zig Clean Color, Brown Zig Clean Color (Zig Colors I used are all included in the 48 Pack of Brush Pens)

Tools and Accessories: Zig Detailer Watercolor Brush, Cutterbee Scissors, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush, Tim Holtz Quotations Sticker Set,  Grosgrain Ribbon (retired SU - Option), Toothbrush for Ink Splatter, Craft Mat (Options), Foam Tape, Tombow Mono Multi Glue

I'm linking up here:

Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Flowers // Stamping Sensations - Beautiful Blooms // Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Feminine // Do-Al(l) Kreatives - Pastel Colors and Spring Colors // The Crafting Challenge - Flowers // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use Penny Black Stamps // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Recent Posts you may have missed:

• Spring Greeting Card with a Magnolia Blossom and Distress Inks
• *I Spy* Photography Challenge 16
• Brushstroke Flowers, Stencils and 3 Colors of the Rainbow

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Last Month's Top Picks:

I will continue to add my favorites to the dedicated Pinterest board, but going forward I will once again showcase the top pick's creations with links to their individual blogs, which will be removed at the start of each new month's challenge to remain in compliance with GDPR.

Choosing favorites is never easy but something that needs to be done and here are my top picks in the order of entry.

No. 17 Mandy 

No. 24 Hazel

No. 26 Yasmin

Congratulations! Well deserved recognition! Your top pick logo is below. Feel free to post it to your own blogs if you like to!

To play along this month simply use the linky tool below.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

A few things to remember:

• You may follow the theme or anything crafty goes.

• Backlinking is allowed.

• You may combine with any other challenges.
• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• No more than 3 entries per person please - no worries if you end up with more.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.

Note: Top picks will be selected from the entries shared with the linky tool. The top pick's creations will be displayed the following month along with their blog links until the start of a new challenge. If you do not want to be featured, please do not use the linky tool.

Spring Greeting Card with Magnolia Blossoms and Distress Inks

Hello and happy May!! 

It's hard to believe that it's May already, the kids both had to do virtual school again for the past two weeks but are supposed to go back in person this Monday. Hoping they can finish the school year (which only lasts until the end of May here) somewhat normal as my son is graduating from Highschool. (How did we get  here this fast!!!)

A new theme starts today at Allsorts challenge, it's my turn to host and fitting for the first week of May our theme is "Spring Blossoms". 

My early spring flowers may be faded now but lots of new blossoms are everywhere and it looks so pretty with many trees in bloom! But sadly my Magnolia tree isn't doing too well since the squirrels chewed off the young branches last year (the tree is only a few years old) and it only has a few buds this year which I know the squirrels will get to sooner or later too :-( I don't really blame them though, Magnolia blossoms smell so sweet and wonderful!

My card today features a favorite Magnolia stamp by Penny Black - The Unfolding.

It's been inked with distress inks - markers or ink pads, I used a mix of light and dark pinks for the blossoms (I'm pretty sure I used Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet and Worn Lipstick) and a mix of green inks (Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint) for the leaves, and the  branch was done with a Gathered Twigs Distress Marker. For a long time I've always resisted these beautiful brushstroke stamps because I had no idea how to use them. Having a Stamp Platform is definitely a game changer and they make using these stamps super easy as you can add ink and stamp several times to give it more dimension. I have the Tonic by Tim Holtz which is no longer in production, but there are several to choose from now ....

On this particular stamp I inked the flowers with ink pads because they are large (yes I did get some pink onto the branch/leaves but I simply wipe it off with the corner of a paper towel, then added a darker pink on the edges of the blossoms. A marker is helpful for inking up smaller sections like the leaves and branch, but mini inkpads work well too. 

Barely visible, but I used my retired Stampin Up French Script stamp on the bottom right corner with Shabby Shutters Distress ink to add some interest to the card, but don't look too closely as I ended up stamping the script upside down. I don't know why this  happens to me so often!!

Next I made a little inky puddle using Peeled Paint distress ink and with a toothbrush I splattered some ink onto the card. Inked and distress the edges, then layered the card front onto white card stock which I also distressed, and the a white card base. 

As embellishments I added some dark brown gingham ribbon (options) from my stash as well as a dark brown button and some May Arts jute twine.

The sentiment is from the Penny Black set Friendship. I do wish the white distressed layer was green instead but at the time of making the card I liked the idea of white. 

Thanks so much for visiting! 

Please note this post may include some affilate links meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, but as always at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting this blog.

Recent Posts you may have missed:

• I Spy Photography Challenge 16
• Brushstroke Flower, Stencil and 3 Colors of the Rainbow
• Lightweight Sweater for Spring with Ponte Pants and a Trench Coat

I will try linking up here when I get a chance:

Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday - Use PB Stamps // As You Like It Challenge - Fave Season spring or summer (Spring - love seeing nature coming back to life) // Through the Purple Haze - Ribbon // Mod Squad - Spring has sprung // Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes // Sisterhood of Crafters - From a Garden // The Paper Funday - Spring // The Three Muses - Textures, Layers, Blends (layered stamping, ink blending) // Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything Goes // 

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Brushstroke Flower, Stencils and 3 Colors of the Rainbow / Handmade Greeting Card - Plus my Favorite Rainbow Picture

 Hello and welcome!

This week at Allsorts challenge our theme is "3 Colors of the Rainbow" set by Kath. Hope you'll join in for a chance to win a wonderful prize by Pearlywinks.

I've surely seen plenty of rainbows in my life, but have to admit I had to look up what colors make up the rainbow :-) In case you too need some help, here they are: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Here is what I came up with using Blue, Green and Violet. 

This pretty floral image is called  Exhilaration by Penny Black. 

I used distress inks (markers or ink pads - I don't have each color in every version) to ink up the stamp. I used: Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron for the leaves, Wilted Violet with a touch of Blueprint Sketch for the blossoms. (Wish I had a blueprint sketch marker but had to use the ink pad instead and now my blossoms are a little bit darker than I wish they were!!) 

Then I used Tumbled Glass and Blueprint Sketch ink pads to add the stencil designs (from this Tim Holtz Stencil and Stamp set). Not sure I like how the ink marks stenciling turned out, but at this point most of the card was already done and there was no way back. 

Related Products:

The sentiment is one of my favorites from Penny Black's set Blooming Sentiments, stamped using Versafine Onyx ink. 

I had this dotted patterned paper on my desk and thought the color was a good match for my violet colored flowers so I added a strip to the card under the sentiment. Then I finished it off by adding a blue button and green jute twine (alternative option). 

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Lighweight Sweater for Spring Weather with Black Ponte Pants and a Trench Coat
• *I Spy* Photography Challenge 15
• Cute Fairy Greeting Card in a Clean and Simple Way

Since we're talking about "Rainbow Colors" for this week's Allsorts challenge I'm leaving you with my favorite rainbow picture I've taken. This was back in 2015 on our Colorado trip. One of the stops we made was at the Great Sand Dunes National Park on my birthday! I've taken it as a "Happy Birthday" message from above 😊

This is what you see when you turn around - the Sand Dunes. If you've never been here, I highly recommend visiting if you can. 

I'm linking up here:

Themed Challenges:

We Love Chocolate Baroque Challenge - Springtime // Penny Black Saturday * - Use PB Stamps // Mod Squad * - Spring // The Paper Funday - Spring // Ike's World - Springtime // Double Trouble Challenges - Flowers // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper- Patterned Paper // Do-Al(l) Kreatives - Spring // Let's Craft & Create Challenge - Flowers // Sweet Stampers - Spring 

Anything Goes:

Crafty Sentiment Designs // Always Fun Challenges // Get Creative Challenges // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges // Path of Positivity //  We Love 2 Create // Clever Dexter Challenge // Creatalicious Challenges // LeAnn’s World 101 // The Crafting Challenge

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

*I Spy* Photography Challenge 15

Hello and welcome! 

I'm playing along again in Lysha's "I Spy Photography" challenge and I am sharing my pictures for each prompt below.

This week's prompts:

• Turquoise
• Pill(s)
• Dots of Stripes
• Starts with an "A"
• Your Choice

I struggled with some of these and waited until yesterday to take some of the photos. Really shouldn't have been a struggle but I tend to overthink and actually needed ideas from my husband :-)

Turquoise:

A picture I have hanging in the hallway. I have enough turquoise in the house that this shouldn't have to be a struggle, yet nothing seemed good enough and my husband suggested this picture. Plenty of turquoise in the sky here.

Save up to 25% on home decor. Valid 4/18 - 4/24.

Pills :

I don't take any medication on a regular basis, but did have these in the medicine cabinet that my brother sent me over from Germany years ago - a natural based sinus pill that is not available in traditional US pharmacies. I've only taken 4 of them and they expired 4 years ago 👀, time to throw them out!!

Dots or Stripes:

This was another one I shouldn't have struggled with, but I did!! My husband's idea (again) to photograph one of our cats. Of course Thomas didn't want to cooperate so you can't see his stripes very well here.

Starts with an "A"

I thought about "above" when I took the photo for this prompt, but when I looked at the photo I also spied an "airplane" :-)

My Choice:

A beautiful Magnolia tree at a local park with a small bird nest hidden in between the branches. Wonder how long it will take until the Magnolia tree in my garden will be this tall!! Unfortunately last spring the squirrels chewed off most branches and it's now smaller than it was when we purchased it!!

All photos were taken with my Canon DSLR camera. 

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Cute Fairy Greeting Card in a Clean and Simple Way
• I Spy Photography Challenge 14
• Butterflies, a Stencil and a Vintage Key (handmade card)

This week I'm linking up here:

A Camera and a Cookbook // Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!